Toshirô Mifune and Isuzu Yamada star in this Japanese drama directed by Akira Kurosawa. After securing a great victory in battle for their lord Tsuzuki (Takamaru Sasaki), samurai commanders and friends Taketoki Washizu (Mifune) and Yoshiaki Miki (Minoru Chiaki) meet a mysterious spirit in the Spider's Web Forest who prophesies their rise to power. When the first part of the spirit's prediction comes true, Washizu tells his wife Asaji (Yamada) about the rest of the prophecy and her ambition leads him to commit murder, an act which seals both of their fates.